Ajel, 12 September 2026: Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet has approved the unified volunteer work law for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, replacing the Kingdom’s existing Volunteer Work Law issued in 2020.
The decision, published in the official gazette Umm Al‑Qura under Saudi Arabia Cabinet Resolution No. 260/2026 dated 12 March 1448 AH, was taken during a session chaired by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. It followed extensive reviews of the draft law, the current Volunteer Work Law (Saudi Arabia Royal Decree No. M/70 of 27 May 1441 AH), and multiple memoranda and reports prepared by the Bureau of Experts, the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, the Council of Political and Security Affairs, and the Shoura Council.
The unified law was adopted in line with the GCC Supreme Council’s decision at its 44th session in December 2023. Article 14 of the law will come into effect once the necessary legal procedures are completed. The National Centre for Non‑Profit Sector Development has been designated as the competent authority for implementing the provisions of the law.
The new framework will replace the earlier Volunteer Work Law, harmonising volunteer regulations across GCC states and strengthening governance of voluntary activities. A draft royal decree has been prepared to formalise the approval and repeal of the previous law.
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